Police Suspect Police Dormitory Fire In Makassar From Gas Stove

Residents look at the debris of the former location of the Pioneer Police Dormitory (Aspol) fire on South Veteran Street, Mamajang District, Makassar/Photo: Antara

MAKASSAR - The police said that the fire in the Pioneer Police Dormitory (Aspol) which scorched 32 tenement houses on Jalan Veteran Selatan, Mamajang District, Makassar, South Sulawesi, was allegedly caused by a gas stove leaking and causing an explosion.

"This is information from the witness, allegedly from a gas stove explosion, (gas leak). Yes, from the witness's information, it happened at around five o'clock when the incident occurred," said Mamajang Police Chief, Commissioner of Police Mariana at the scene, Wednesday evening, April 20.

The fire incident, according to witness statements, started in two houses before the corner of Musang Street, in one of the houses of a retired police officer, then quickly spread to other tenement houses.

As for the number of tenement houses, from the information collected, there were 32 units. However, the team is still continuing to collect data on the exact number of victims affected.

While the death toll was nil, but the police chief said, there were victims who were hit by fire and suffered minor injuries and had to be rushed to the Bayangkara Hospital for treatment.

Quoted by Antara, the affected victims were 32 heads with 172 people. Currently, some of the victims have fled to their families' homes and others are in temporary posts while waiting for the establishment of evacuation posts.

Head of the Putra Putri Besar Family (KBPP) of the Makassar City Police, Niar Tompo, said that at the time of the incident he had brought his sick mother out of the house when the red rooster began to grow. So far, his party is still recording the number of victims in order to receive assistance.

From observations at the location, a number of residents and victims were still seen gathering at the scene, some belongings of the survivors were seen being transported by pickup trucks for safekeeping.

Deputy Chief of the Regional Police Brigadier General Chuzaini Andi Pattopoi also visited the scene and asked the victim to be helped immediately. In addition, aid posts have also been established, and the PMI and BPBD teams have prepared humanitarian assistance.